This validated that health promotion rather than only disease treatment could be credibly taught, researched and practiced. A licensed naturopathic physician, educator, researcher and expert spokesman, he is Editor-in-Chief of PubMed-indexed IMCJ, Board Chair of the Institute for Functional Medicine, founding board member of American Herbal Pharmacopeia, and a member of the science boards of the Hecht Foundation and Bioclinic Naturals. He was appointed by Presidents Clinton and Bush to 2 prestigious government commissions to advise Congress on how to integrate natural medicine into healthcare. He is author or co-author of 6 textbooks (most recent Clinical Environmental Medicine) and 8 consumer books (most recent Healthy Bones, Healthy You with wife Lara).

The founders of naturopathic medicine were remarkably insightful in their understanding of health and disease. Their many adages continue to guide our practices today. However, virtually all the defining principles of naturopathic medicine were formulated over one hundred years ago when our understanding of physiology and disease were much more rudimentary. How well do our principles stand up in the light of modern science?

The topic of Sharon’s PhD research is The FIDGIT Study: An investigation into the relationships between fibromyalgia, the digestive system and the microbiome of the gastrointestinal tract. Through her research, she is an invited collaborator in the International Myopain Symposium – a group of clinicians and researchers committed to understanding chronic pain in order to improve outcomes for those suffering with it.

An experienced teacher, Sharon has developed, delivered and co-ordinated programmes in naturopathy, aromatherapy, nutrition, massage, and nursing. She is an Adjunct Fellow at Southern Cross University, where she is involved in course writing and delivery on the post-graduate naturopathic programme and co-authored the Gastroenterology chapter in the World Naturopathic Federation’s (WNF) Health Technology Assessment (HTA).

She is clinical director of the Auckland Gut Clinic, which provides a nationwide breath testing service, and is in clinical practice part-time, running a gut-focused internship programme for recent graduates of naturopathy.

The naturopathic approach to treating patients with complex chronic conditions in clinical practice considers multiple body systems. A comprehensive health assessment is aimed at garnering an overview of factors contributing to a person’s state of health, their symptoms, and the biopsychosocial challenges they face. These inform the practitioner’s approach of treating “the person as a whole”.

Modern-day naturopathic practice combines traditional principles and therapeutic prescriptions aimed at restoring good health by treating the cause. With increasing demands for validation of this approach, naturopathic philosophies and principles are at risk of being compromised by adopting mechanistic protocols, often informed by preclinical evidence obtained from laboratory or animal research, with little real-world evidence from humans.

In contrast to the medical reductionist paradigm, an ever-expanding body of research supports that a myriad of diseases in multiple body systems are linked to the gastrointestinal tract and the milieu that resides within, supporting the wisdom of several of our forebears who proposed the gut was the epicentre of health.

Fibromyalgia is a condition for which biomedical understanding of aetiology is lacking. Without insights to the cause, clinical approaches (naturopathic and allopathic) are primarily aimed at alleviating symptoms. Emerging evidence is – to date – piecemeal and reductionist, without consideration of holism and the overlapping roles of multiple body systems.

When research questions are based on observations from practice, the insights gained through scientific inquiry can inform naturopathic care and guide future research.

Following her herbal training with the UK’s National Institute of Medical Herbalists, she returned home to Melbourne. She subsequently practiced in the first integrative medicine clinic there and helped establish Melbourne’s longstanding herbal support group (and the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia’s (NHAA) first chapter) VicHerbs. She has served on the executive of the NHAA and was inaugural chair of their Board Member Advisory Committee. She taught herbal medicine at the Southern School of Natural Therapies before being appointed foundation lecturer in herbal medicine at Southern Cross University in 1995 when it established the first state-funded university course in naturopathy in Australia. She lectures and publishes regularly both nationally and internationally, and her PhD was an account of the contemporary challenges facing Western Herbal Medicine in Australia. She currently teaches at the University of Tasmania and is Deputy Chair of the Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies. She is a Life Member of the NHAA.

The practice of medicine involves making clinical decisions in the face of uncertainty, which creates a need for scientific evidence to determine probability. However, traditional medicinal practices such as naturopathy are often criticized for their lack of scientific evidence. While efforts have been made to systematically evaluate traditional medicine practices, ongoing scientific inquiry is still necessary. Sole reliance on scientific evidence for traditional herbal medicines undermines historic knowledge and contributions to communities. As custodians of naturopathic practice, it is important to navigate the interface between science, tradition, and practice with wisdom and respect for evidence-based medicine and naturopathic philosophy.

The modernization of herbal medicine has resulted in an increased understanding of how herbs work and how they can be applied. Evidence-based medicine and phytochemistry have become essential in herbal education and clinical practice, but the emphasis on these areas has come at the expense of neglecting the social sciences, humanities, and ecology. History and philosophy are essential to address ethical questions raised by the use of medicinal plants, and to promote a holistic understanding of health for both individuals and the planet. While science is the basis of western medicine, moving beyond its disciplines will be necessary to realize the potential contributions of herbalists and naturopaths to healing.

Advanced Diploma in Naturopathy, Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition, and a PhD in nutritional pharmacology (exploring the association between the gastrointestinal microbiome and coeliac disease). Joanna is a senior lecturer within the Faculty of Medicine Health at the University of Sydney’s Pharmacy School. Her teaching and research activity relate to the quality use of complementary medicine products, and microbiome health associations. She supervises higher degree research students in these two areas. Her teaching role includes the development and delivery of evidence-based complementary medicine education for undergraduate and post-graduate pharmacy students. Prior to her academic career, she practiced as a Naturopath for 15 years in an integrative medical practice. She currently serves on the board of the International Society for Traditional, Complementary, Integrative Medicine Research. She is a member of the Australian TGA Advisory Committee for Complementary Medicines.

The practice of medicine involves making clinical decisions in the face of uncertainty, which creates a need for scientific evidence to determine probability. However, traditional medicinal practices such as naturopathy are often criticized for their lack of scientific evidence. While efforts have been made to systematically evaluate traditional medicine practices, ongoing scientific inquiry is still necessary. Sole reliance on scientific evidence for traditional herbal medicines undermines historic knowledge and contributions to communities. As custodians of naturopathic practice, it is important to navigate the interface between science, tradition, and practice with wisdom and respect for evidence-based medicine and naturopathic philosophy.

The modernization of herbal medicine has resulted in an increased understanding of how herbs work and how they can be applied. Evidence-based medicine and phytochemistry have become essential in herbal education and clinical practice, but the emphasis on these areas has come at the expense of neglecting the social sciences, humanities, and ecology. History and philosophy are essential to address ethical questions raised by the use of medicinal plants, and to promote a holistic understanding of health for both individuals and the planet. While science is the basis of western medicine, moving beyond its disciplines will be necessary to realize the potential contributions of herbalists and naturopaths to healing.

She is in the final stages of her PhD (Public Health) at UTS on the experiences of women who have cardiac disease in pregnancy and the first year postpartum, and she has a Masters of Science in Medicine (Reproductive Health Sciences and Human Genetics) from the University of Sydney.  Jane has worked in women’s health for decades and is passionate about keeping healthcare accessible, do-able, and effective.  She is of a certain age.

Are women feeble minded, all intuition and no intellect? Is the traditional view of female hysterics valid? Are women’s brains structurally and functionally different from men’s?  And does any of this matter, broadly, and specifically to health care professionals? Well yes, it does matter.
In this presentation we’ll explore the nuances of hormones and life stages on a woman’s neurological function to arrive at the menopause and midlife, when the hormonal environment undergoes one last major shift.
Focusing on midlife we’ll cover how practitioners can support women and optimize their brain health and help them step into their sass.

As a prolific author, Kerry has co-authored more than 40 scientific papers and published his 7th text on herbal medicine ‘Functional Herbal Therapy’ in 2021.  He has been recognised for his lifelong contributions to herbal medicine, sharing the American Botanical Council’s (ABC’s) Varro E Tyler Award for Excellence in Phytomedicine Research in 2016 with MediHerb.  His lifelong contribution to the field of herbal medicine was formally recognised in 2015 when he received the prestigious Lady Cilento award from the complementary medicine industry in Australia. 

Kerry continues to care for his patients from his busy herbal and naturopathic practice in Toowoomba and has so much to share from private clinical, scientific research and broad industry perspectives. 

Brad is the Lead Clinical Educator and cocreator of Co-Biome, where expertise in gastrointestinal healthcare enables him to translate the latest science on the gut microbiome into practical clinical applications. In addition to his research, and working with patients, Brad offers practitioner support through his mentoring program Brad’s Brainiacs

Antimicrobials are frequently used in naturopathic practice; however, the impact they have on the colonic microbiome remains a continued area of research. The current use of antimicrobial herbs in clinical practice is indicated based on pathogen detection through culture, PCR or breath testing. Upon identifying a selected pathogen or overgrowth, clinicians generally prescribe antimicrobials with the aim of eradicating the identified pathogen. The use of advanced microbiome sequencing is required to understand the full impact antimicrobial herbs can have on the whole  colonic microbiome. Research  using  whole-genome metagenomic  sequencing  has  revealed  that  some  antimicrobials alter  species  within the microbiome to a more dysbiotic state. Through limiting the use of antimicrobials in patients with particular microbiome profiles and supporting the gastrointestinal ecosystem, clinicians may better protect their patient’s colonic microbiome. By presenting the latest microbiome research and drawing on clinical experience, clinicians will leave this presentation with an advanced understanding of antimicrobial prescription and how to utilise microbiome testing to effectively determine the appropriateness of antimicrobials.

Her research involves mono- and polymicrobial biofilms associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs), and their response to herbal medicine. Biofilms are hard to treat with antibiotics and anti-fungals, and contribute to antimicrobial resistance, so Cathrina has turned to traditional knowledge for answers. She is examining herbal medicines that can counteract biofilms in the lab, hoping to contribute to developing effective herbal medicine interventions in the fight against chronic UTIs. Cathrina has recently successfully developed a polymicrobial, clinically-relevant model of UTI.

Cherie’s PhD explores the preconception health literacy, and beliefs and attitudes towards preconception care, of health professionals in Australia. Cherie is awarded with first class Honours and Master of Reproductive Medicine with excellence. Published in Q1 peer-reviewed journals, Cherie has presented nationally and internationally. Her clinical naturopathic practice specialises in women’s health and fertility. A dedicated Curriculum Facilitator, Lecturer at Endeavour College of Natural Health, member of Low Risks Ethics Committee and recent nominee for the ‘Award for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching and Learning.’

There are significant translation gaps between the growing evidence to support the need for preconception care and the knowledge and practice of health professionals.Naturopaths and other health professionals in current clinical practice in Australia were recruited through NHAA, CMA, RACGP and ACM. Participants completed an online survey to share their awareness of modifiable preconception risks and health behaviours, their perspectives, and experiences regarding information-seeking for preconception health information, and their perceptions regarding the ideal delivery of preconception care services. Data analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. UTS HREC(ETH22-7083).

She has a broad-base of clinical experience with a focus on women’s health through pregnancy and beyond, and infant/ toddler health. She has been in clinical practice for 18+ years and is part of Goulds Natural Medicine, a busy apothecary, clinic and associated herb farm. Dawn teaches Evidence-based Complementary Medicine at the University of Tasmania and is part of the research team at Probitic.Advisor.com. She is published in the peer-review literature including publications in the area of herbal safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Maternal dietary exclusion practices seem to have gained new momentum, perhaps fuelled by the rise of social media support groups.  Parents initiate dietary restrictions with the hope of controlling difficult manifestations in infants including, eczema, colic, reflux, night waking etc.  Clinicians find themselves in tricky terrain as many of these families are distressed, disillusioned with the healthcare they have received and often strongly holding to the belief around food triggers and the lifeline they have found in the social media forum.
While there are clearly many occasions when some dietary exclusions are warranted, there is also the potential for harm including additional stress, impaired nutrition, and breastfeeding cessation. Parents can become vigilant looking for patterns of association. An additional concern is the potential loss of opportunity for the infant to develop tolerance to potential allergens as current evidence indicates exposure to potential dietary allergens during pregnancy and breastfeeding support the attainment of tolerance.

She is also a Research Associate at Evidence Sciences, a complementary medicine research organization headed by nutritional biochemist Dr Elizabeth Steels. Emily has worked with Dr Steels in several clinical trials investigating complementary medicine treatments for glucose dysregulation and its complications. Emily is also the first author on several peer-reviewed journal articles. Aside from glucose dysregulation, Emily also works with women in her clinic in supporting their hormonal health, particularly with menstrual-related challenges.

One third of those with diabetes are undiagnosed, leaving them untreated and at increased risk of complications.  Several clinical signs and blood tests are used to screen and diagnose for diabetes; however misdiagnosis still occurs.  Prediabetes in particular can be difficult to identify in clients if they do not show obvious symptoms. Blood tests used to screen and diagnose for diabetes can often miss those with prediabetes.  Being able to identify those at risk of diabetes and being misdiagnosed is important to naturopaths and other health practitioners in order to reduce the risk of harm that arises from having unmanaged glucose dysregulation.
This discussion will give a guide on what to look out for and how to navigate blood test results that may indicate that someone is prediabetic.  Topics discussed include:  Differences in blood sugar levels between normal levels, prediabetic and diabetic; The difference in the conditions that are considered prediabetes; Tests used to identify glucose dysregulation and which are more suitable for picking up prediabetes; An overview of treatment strategies that is helpful with managing prediabetes.

In 2020 Greg was awarded the Bioceutical Integrative Medicine Award as a ‘Living Legend’ for his contribution to naturopathy over three decades. He has won several awards for academic teaching and conference presentations. Greg was in full time clinical practice for 22 years and completed his PhD on cancer patients, complementary medicine, and the hospital system. Greg has taught at the Southern School of Natural Therapies (now Torrens University) since 1992 in naturopathic philosophy, naturopathic clinical medicine, herbal medicine, clinical supervision, and public health.

Sixty-five percent of cancer patients are using complementary medicine (CM) but are reluctant to discuss CM with their oncology hospital teams. This can impact adversely on patient satisfaction, autonomy, and safety. Cancer patients are not always under the care of qualified naturopaths who can advise on the safe and effective evidence-based use of herbal and nutritional medicine for integrative cancer care.

This inspired her to originally pursue a Bachelor of Biological Science at Deakin University. She achieved a H1 in her honours research project looking at how birds regulate their body temperature in different environmental conditions. Her passion for nature led her to naturopathy where she saw the connection between a healthy body and a healthy environment where optimal human health is intrinsically linked to the health of the planet. She has been an active member in the Melbourne naturopathic community and has been an Organising Committee Member of the Victorian Herbalists Association / VicHerbs.

Inna has a particular interest in treating patients with chronic pain and autoimmune conditions, helping them to improve their quality of life and feel better again. During her studies and clinical practice Inna became interested in the endocannabinoid system and its potential role in chronic pain. After completing a Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy, Inna was competitively awarded a Summer Research scholarship from the Research Office of Endeavour College of Natural Health to conduct a systematic literature review on the effects of medicinal cannabis for the fibromyalgia syndrome. This led to her decision to undertake a PhD, with the aim of investigating the potential of medicinal cannabis in treating fibromyalgia syndrome.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an essential endogenous signaling system that may be involved in the pathophysiology of chronic widespread pain (CWP) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Further research is required to understand the role of ECS in the development and maintenance of CWP and FMS. We provided the first systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the clinical relevance of ECS alterations in patients with CWP and FMS by comparing plasma and interstitial levels of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines in patients and healthy controls. A systematic search was conducted to identify studies that measured plasma and/or interstitial levels of endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamines in patients with CWP or FMS and healthy controls.

She has completed the Bachelor of Clinical Science with a double major in naturopathic studies and complementary medicine and a Bachelor of Health Science. She is passionate about planetary health and systems change. Her current research project is looking at the role of naturopathy/herbalism in disaster recovery and she would like to pursue this research area. Matthew Leach (ND, RN, BN, BN(Hons), DipClinNutr, PhD) and Liza Oates( PhD GradCertEvidBased CompMed, GCLT, BHSc(Nat)) are the supervisors and co-authors of this project.

He did his PhD examining the capacity of probiotics, prebiotics and herbal medicines to modify the gastrointestinal tract microbiota and teaches worldwide on all these topic areas. Dr Hawrelak is on the Medical Nutrition Council of the American Society for Nutrition and is a Fellow of both the American College of Nutrition and the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia. He maintains a busy clinical practice through Goulds Natural Medicine Clinic (Hobart, Tasmania) and is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Tasmania.

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) has been part of the Western materia  medica for centuries, but is seldom prescribed by contemporary Western herbalists. Despite its lack of clinical use, black pepper has retained its place at the dinner table of pretty much every home and restaurant in the Western world. In this session, we’ll briefly review the uses of black pepper in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine and examine how it was used traditionally by Western herbalists in the past. The main active constituents, major actions, indications and contraindications will all be reviewed. Black pepper is most well-known for its adjuvant capacity, where it improves the bio availability of numerous compounds via a number of mechanisms. Other key actions that will be discussed in depth include as a digestive stimulant, antimicrobial, and neuroprotectant. Critical research examining the varied therapeutic effects of black pepper and its main active constituent piperine will be highlighted and discussed.  And some case studies illustrating how it is utilised in the authors’ clinical practice will also be shared. It is important to note, however, that black pepper is at high risk of herb-drug interactions due to its capacity to impact key drug metabolism pathways, such as cytochrome P-450 3A and P-glycoprotein.  Thus, it must be used with caution in patients taking pharmaceutical medications. This potential for herb-drug interaction will be examined in depth.

Karin has a PhD (Human Genetics) & Masters Degree from the University of Heidelberg, Germany. She holds an Honorary Adjunct A/Professor position at Torrens University, VIC & an Honorary A/Professor title at the University of Adelaide, SA. 2022 marks the 10-year anniversary of Research at NIIM. Within this time, AProf Ried led several projects in cancer, chronic fatigue, sleep, heart, gut and respiratory health, and published 40 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Arterial stiffness is a cardiovascular risk factor, which increases naturally with age. Kyolic garlic has been shown to reduce arterial stiffness, while normalising blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood stickiness. We hypothesised that increased flexibility of arteries will lead to slower blood flow, increased oxygen uptake, and aerobic fitness. 

Our 12-week-trial aimed to assess the effect of Kyolic-garlic on arterial-stiffness, lactate-threshold, aerobic-fitness, recovery, cardiovascular-proteomic-biomarkers, and microcirculation in middle-aged endurance-athletes with elevated arterial-stiffness. 

For her project she has been investigating the intersection between naturopathy and complexity science. During this time, she has published a number of articles of the topic and presented her findings internationally. Kim has taught at Endeavour College for over eight years across the Naturopathy, Nutrition, and Social Sciences Departments and co-wrote the Cultural Competency in Healthcare subject.

Naturopathy is founded upon a traditional holistic philosophy, which predates the reductionist contemporary scientific paradigm. Reductionism is a pervasive scientific precept, and the whole systems approach of naturopathy falls outside of its scope. The recent emergence of complexity science provides a congruent framework from which to develop our knowledge of naturopathy using contemporary scientific research methods and terminology. A mixed methods sequential explanatory design was utilised to explore naturopathic practice and its management of clinical complexity. A novel complexity science informed research design was developed, and this was implemented as a pilot and then large-scale study to analyse naturopathic case studies employing exploratory data analysis and computational network analysis. Focus group participants provided their understanding of the findings from these studies.

Alongside her longstanding Naturopathic practice, Kristin is a respected researcher, technical writer and educator for Australian herbal medicine company, OptimalRx. She is also a co-host of OptimalRx’s popular podcast, ‘TechTalk with OptimalRx’. Kristin is a member of the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) and has a great love of herbal medicine, which is the focus of much of her research, writing, and lecturing. With a continued drive to further the reach of our profession, Kristin provides health practitioners with practical and innovative natural medicine strategies based on current research and clinical results.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD)has been recognised as a leading public health problem worldwide and is known as a silent killer, in that many people do not realise they may be in the early stages of CKD as up to 90% of kidney function can be lost before symptoms are evident. CKD isa progressive and largely under-diagnosed condition.  This highlights the need for practitioners to have a thorough understanding of the mechanisms involved in development of kidney disorders and a sound knowledge of effective interventions.  Furthermore, due to its insidious nature, numerous risk factors, and the rise of other comorbid conditions such as cardiometabolic disease, CKD is likely present in many of our patients, regardless of our niche or clinic speciality.  Additionally, medical management of CKD patients is limited, and subsequently herbal medicine practitioners have an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact on the health of these patients by working to prevent the development and progression of the disease. This presentation will combine both technical and clinical information to outline the risk factors, development, and clinical assessment and management of CKD.  Naturopaths and Herbalists are extremely well placed to support our patients’ kidney function and this presentation will highlight the efficacy of phytomedicines in this arena, exploring traditional paradigms, relevant research, and clinical examples.

I would like to present the preliminary findings of this reseach and a draft framework to the naturopathic community and would like to gather their feedback on this prime work. This framework may serve to facilitate development of clinical reasoning skills of novice naturopathic medicine practitioners and experts to reflect on their reasoning processes.

Clinical reasoning (CR) processes can vary depending on disciplinary background and experience. Several discipline specific theories and models have been proposed to assist the development of CR skills in the fields of medicine and nursing.  While the clinical decision-making process of Naturopathic Medicine (NM) practitioners has been explored, and frameworks guiding development of such thinking within naturopathic clinical practice and education have also been proposed, a framework that specifically guides development of CR underpinned by NM practice and philosophy has not been developed. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted to capture the cognitive, intuitive, and analytical aspects of the CR process of NM practitioners. Semi-structured interviews of 15 Novice and 16 expert NM practitioners were conducted to obtain a full recount of their CR processes within their clinical practice.  Through content analysis the categories and core categories were identified, and relationships between these categories were translated to identify key facets of NM clinical reasoning.

Since graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy, she has built a thriving clinical practice both online and in Brisbane. Norelle has a special interest in natural dermatology and female health. Patient education, lifestyle modification and an individualised, healthy whole food diet are central to her treatment approaches. As an avid herbalist she enjoys formulating bespoke herbal tonics to support her client’s health.

Hormonal contraception (either oral contraceptive pills, implants or intrauterine devices) are commonly prescribed to women for contraception, to manage menstrual disorders and treat acne. Cessation (or removal) often leads to the development of rebound or post-pill acne, even in those women with no previous acne history. Post-pill acne can be stubborn and resistant to standard acne treatments. Our clients are primarily concerned with the forward-facing or cosmetic implications; however, acne is the visible symptom of inflammation and metabolic and hormonal imbalance. Bringing the skin into balance has health benefits that go deeper than the dermis. This presentation will focus on practical clinical insights illustrated with case studies into the use of herbal medicine treatment of post-pill acne.

Prior to joining Endeavour College six years ago, Robert was in clinical practice with a particular interest in using complementary medicine for multiple sclerosis support, and for stress, anxiety and fatigue. Robert was previously on the NHAA Board as Director and Treasurer and was also on the founding Practice Standards Committee of the ARONAH. He holds Bachelor degrees in Business and Herbal Medicine, a Diploma of Nutrition, and a Master of Health Science.

As an inclusivity activist, Sage advocates for the recognition & inclusivity of the LGBTQIA+ & sex worker communities in naturopathic practice & is passionate about creating safe spaces for all. Sage works closely with the LGBTQIA+ community to support their reproductive health & fertility outcomes equal to that of their cisgender heterosexual counterparts. Sage provides education for business & practitioners to support social cohesion around LGBTQIA+ reproductive healthcare & works as a consultant for clinicians wishing to update their knowledge & skills in supporting this patient group.

The LGBTQIA+ community & single cisgender women have been challenging & broadening nuclear family constructs for years, & have faced many legislative barriers around access to assisted reproductive technology (ART) & in-vitro fertilisation (IVF); especially in Victoria. While some practitioners feel confident in addressing preconception care, it is important for them to be aware of other variables seen within this group. For those undertaking ART & IVF in Australia, we know the majority are seeking support from complementary practitioners; therefore, having a comprehensive understanding in supporting LGBTQIA+ reproduction & how to do this safely is of high value to the naturopathic practitioner & LGBTQIA+ community alike.It is important for practitioners to be aware of historical & current reproductive legislation to be able to holistically support this patient group. Understanding terminology, gamete variations for conception, impacts of gender affirming hormone therapy, home insemination methods & ART strategies alongside collaboration with fertility specialists allows for confident & most importantly, safe clinical practice & prescribing.
As many individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community have experienced medical trauma, seeking support from complementary health practitioners let alone ART services can be daunting. Employing clinical assessment & case examples, this presentation will empower practitioners to confidently navigate LGBTQIA+ language to clinically assess & understand reproductive methods & variations while providing a safe environment that equally optimises LGBTQIA+ fertility outcomes as their cisgendered, heterosexual counterparts.

Sophia’s research is investigating a new model of delivering naturopathic care to women and gender-diverse people with endometriosis using group visits, to address issues of access and integration of naturopathy as well as unmet healthcare needs. Sophia is highly trained as a shared medical appointment group facilitator and works in clinical practice providing guidance and group facilitation services to naturopaths implementing group visits within their clinics. Sophia holds an Honours degree in Naturopathy and has authored several peer-reviewed articles on naturopathic practice and herbal medicine.

Naturopathic service utilisation is high, particularly among those with chronic conditions. Despite this, there remain some barriers to accessing naturopathic services in the broader population. Group medical visits (GMVs) (also known as integrative group medical visits (IGMVs)) are an effective medical and integrative model of care developed to mitigate such barriers and are used by conventional medical providers in Australia and overseas. GMVs have been shown to bea n effective approach to managing chronic disease & improving health outcomes through collective care and healing by incorporating connection and peer support with clinical care.  There is increasing interest throughout the naturopathic profession in adopting the model to implement group naturopathic consultations. Naturopaths from various parts of Australia have started pilot testing the group consult model and are observing promising and inspiring results.
Workshop focus: This audience-interactive clinical discussion aims to showcase some of the programs and structure currently being used in clinical practices by various naturopaths and discuss the successes and challenges to implementing group consultations in naturopathic practice.

Further, in September 2022, Tristan completed a poster presentation on the proposed research topic at a QLD health forum. Tristan’s experience yields within his prose, highlighted in his recent presentations and in the judicious completion of a systematic review manuscript, submitted and currently under review, plus in other work-in-progress manuscripts considered on the proposed topic.

Preventive health is a cornerstone of Naturopathic practice. Paternal preconception care is a preventive paradigm prioritising the health roles and responsibilities of males before having a child, optimising pregnancy, and offspring outcomes by addressing diet, lifestyle, and environment while limiting any modifiable risk factors. Indeed, such precautions sustain public health, preserving
male health, the health of children and future generations.

A systematic review exploring paternal preconception modifiable risk factors for adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes. Studies were included if observational, reporting associations of modifiable risk factors in the preconception period among males (e.g., identified as reproductive partners of pregnant women and/or fathers of offspring for the outcomes reported) with adverse
pregnancy and offspring outcomes.

36 cohort and three case-control papers were identified, albeit the evidence from this review is limited and heterogeneous. Papers assessed as good quality showed that paternal smoking may increase the risk of birth defects and higher paternal BMI was associated with higher offspring birthweight. Nonetheless, further high-quality research is necessitated for men and couples to
prepare for healthy pregnancies and children.

Naturopathic prudence acknowledges paternal preconception health and care in clinical practice, assisting to identify and address men’s preconception modifiable risk factors and/or health behaviours that influence adverse pregnancy outcomes. This research strives to promote and influence paternal preconception bi-directional translational research, a continuing cycle of new knowledge with the potential to further research and ultimately translate to clinical practice, enriching health care and/or public health.

With a Masters in Clinical Trials Research, Vanessa currently manages the clinical research program at Integria Healthcare, focusing on design and execution of clinical trials in herbal and nutritional medicine. Her focus is on furthering the evidence base for naturopathic medicine and demonstrating its safe and efficacious use alongside mainstream medical practices.

Natural medicine practitioners often develop clinical protocols providing fantastic results in treating individuals for a specific condition or symptom. The same treatment may have been applied to a large group of patients over time, but can the practitioner assess how effective those results really are at a group level? Or compare them meaningfully to other treatment methods for that condition? Our research has shown that the way practitioners collect patient data is not always systematic with inconsistent or mismatched data points between patient files. This does not allow for objective comparison of treatment response between patients treated in a similar way. The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate how standardising data collection in clinic can enable quantitative analysis of results across a group of patients treated in a similar way for the same condition. Being able to really assess the effect of treatments at this level is a form of reflective practice that has a two-fold outcome of benefit for the practitioner. Firstly, it aids development of a highly specialised treatment model built around unbiased evaluation of real-world clinical outcomes. Secondly, these methods can enhance practitioners research skills and may lead to publication of results in the form of a case series. This enables dissemination of quality real-world outcomes into the wider natural medicine practitioner community. The importance of standardised data collection forms and validated assessment tools will be highlighted, with a worked example of case series data collection.

As an author for the Australian Journal of Herbal and Naturopathic Medicine, Wendy is dedicated to critically evaluating traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine research, and fostering research and education in Australia. Wendy has a background in Earth and Environmental Science, completing a Bachelor of Advanced Science and a PhD in hydrogeology. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in environmental assessment and research, including as an Australian Research Council Fellow. She is committed to fostering and promoting the discipline of environmental medicine.

Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are a class of man-made chemicals that encompasses more than 9,000 different compounds. At a molecular level, PFAS are composed of incredibly strong chains of bonded fluorine and carbon atoms, allowing them to repel oil and water. Those properties have made them an integral part of many industrial applications and consumer products in recent decades, such as stain and water repellents, Teflon non-stick pans, paints, cleaners, personal care products, and food packaging.
Decades of high-volume production of PFAS, coupled with the environmental persistence of these chemicals, have led to widespread PFAS contamination of soil, water and air and bioaccumulation across entire ecological food chains. Moreover, PFAS chemicals do not disintegrate in the environment or in the human body. Instead, they accumulate in our surroundings and in our blood, kidneys, and liver, leading to the nickname “forever chemicals”.
PFAS are endocrine disruptors and are associated with a plethora of health issues, including reduced immunity, autoimmunity, increased cholesterol and/or risk of obesity, developmental delays and effects in children, reproductive issues, early menopause, impaired kidney function, and increased cancer risk. Patients presenting with a broad range of metabolic, immune or neurological disturbances will benefit from a clinical environmental chemical risk assessment. PFAS and other disrupting chemicals can significantly impact many aspects of health. There are currently no known treatments to accelerate the clearance of PFAS from the body, and minimising exposure is the best way to reduce adverse health risks. However, a thorough clinical environmental chemical risk assessment is the first step, followed by education about minimising exposure.

She has completed a Masters of Philosophy (University of Sydney), a Masters of Medicine (Reproductive Health and Human Genetics) and a Masters of Herbal Medicine (University of Sydney). She is a qualified naturopath with a special interest in fertility and reproductive health. Alison has lectured and supervised clinic sessions at Endeavour College of Natural Health.

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), affects about 10% of women seeking medical treatment for infertility. Many women consult a naturopath which may offer benefits, however, evidence is mostly based on anecdotal reports. This trial assessed the feasibility of evaluating whole-system naturopathy in a randomized control trial. Women with DOR trying to conceive were randomly assigned to naturopathy plus usual care or usual care alone for 16 weeks.  Naturopathy was defined through a consensus by12 practicing naturopaths. Primary outcomes were recruitment, completion and acceptability. Secondary clinical outcomes included pregnancy rates and lifestyle changes (mental health, QOL, diet, exercise, sleep, weight).

Amie has attracted ~$4.4M in research funding in the last 4 years and holds editorial appointments in leading complementary medicine academic journals. She has authored over 220 journal articles, contributed to over 30 book chapters, and edited three special journal issues – most recently on Global Public Health and Traditional Medicine – and three research books such as the world’s first health technology assessment of naturopathy. She has leadership roles within the Public Health Association of Australia, ARONAH, and the World Naturopathic Federation. She is a global leader in naturopathy and complementary medicine research.

Naturopaths are well-trained to navigate potential interactions between their treatments and pharmaceuticals, however this relies on the patient disclosing pharmaceutical use to their practitioner. This study presents the first examination of conventional medicine disclosure among a nationally-representative sample.

Amina specializes in Chronic illness e.g. Viral infections, Lyme disease, mould illness, fatigue, depression, hormonal imbalances, skin problems, allergies and digestive disorders. Amina is extremely passionate about educating others in Naturopathy. She has presented as a Keynote speaker to medical doctors and naturopaths at International conferences, medical documentaries, radio, seminars, webinars, podcasts & workshops. Amina is the author of the book “Lyme Natural” encompassing Naturopathic treatment for Lyme disease, co infections, mould illness and stealth infections. She also won the award for ‘Australian Practitioner of the year’.Amina is currently finalizing her second book (Chronic stealth infections – Filling in the missing pieces) and about to commence her PhD in Herbal medicine for Viral infections.

Stealth viral infections are often underlying contributions to symptoms of many chronically ill patients especially those with ongoing fatigue, pain and neurodegenerative conditions.  Such obligate pathogens are regularly missed or undetected in general medical testing, leaving patients misdiagnosed, confused or worse still, being told there is nothing wrong with them. As Amina specializes in chronic illness, she has had to delve deeper into why patients are suffering from debilitating symptoms such as arthritic pain and other autoimmune symptoms.  Upon many investigations and hundreds of cases, it is apparent that many of these patients are dealing with not just bacterial or parasitic infections, but often multiple chronic viral infections such as Epstein Barr, Covid, Cytomegalovirus, Coxsackie, Ross River virus and Herpes.

Battling PMS monthly drew her to writing this critical literature review on herbal medicine treatments for the hormonal fluctuations occurring in the luteal phase of a woman’s cycle during her years at university. She chose to focus on the scientific research surrounding Vitex agnus-castus from the last 10 years, and embarked on an in-depth investigation into the benefits and symptom reductions experienced by patients with mild-moderate PMS of child bearing ages (18-45) when ingesting this herb daily for 2-6 menstrual cycles. Results were astounding – and in favour of Vitex for alleviating the somatic and psychological symptoms associated with PMS.

She is currently developing pre-clinical research stream at NCNM, SCU and has eclectic background in scientific research, educational leadership and curriculum development, delivery and scholarly research.

Pre-clinical research or biomedical research uses cellular (mammalian  and  bacterial)  models  to drill down  to  very  specific  molecular  events that can  lead  to  disease or specific  cellular phenotype manifestation or  even  interaction  between something foreign(e.g.  drug or bacteria) and specific molecule(s).  Pre-clinical research has many tools  in  its  trade –from structural to interaction to functional  analyses–all with  a  major  goal  of  understanding  structure-function  link  at  a  molecular level. The approach taken by pre-clinical research can be viewed as reductionist –looking at events on one-to-one basis –which creates  an opposition  to  the holistic naturopathic  clinical  practice and (multi)herbal preparations. So, does pre-clinical research have a place in naturopathic research? If so, how?  At National Centre  for  Naturopathic  Medicine  at  Southern Cross  University we  have  taken  a more pragmatic approach  to  pre-clinical  research  in  an  attempt  to  bring it  more  in-line  to traditional knowledge and contemporary clinical practice.  This presentation will outline our approach to studying herbal medicine  and  nutraceuticals using complex  pre-clinical  models that  align  to clinical practice that can be used to study synergy, understand mode of action as well as use this knowledge to develop more targeted delivery approaches.

Prior to this Antoinette was in clinical practice for 4 years as a Naturopath. During her time at the TGA, Antoinette has been involved in a number of regulatory reforms and safety publications to promote the safe use of CMs in Australia and inform consumers and healthcare professionals about safety issues related to CMs. Antoinette is passionate about the safe use of CMs by consumers under the listed medicines regulatory framework.

Complementary medicines (CMs) have evolved into modern formulations that often contain highly concentrated herbal extracts and novel ingredient combinations, with seemingly endless niche options available for every modern malady. However the composition and physiological effects of highly concentrated herbal extracts remain largely unknown. Pharmacovigilance is the science and activity related to detecting, assessing, understanding and preventing adverse effects and other medicine-related problems. As the Australian medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s pharmacovigilance activities include safety monitoring of CMs. Adverse event reporting is critical for pharmacovigilance. Together with other information, such as scientific literature, these data are used to detect and investigate emerging safety concerns. Regulatory actions, including communications for consumers and healthcare professionals, can then be taken to support the safe use of modern CMs.

With Leah Hechtman, he co-authored the Male Reproductive System chapter in the second edition of Clinical Naturopathic Medicine, and has experience presenting to professional audiences on the topic of natural medicines and sexuality. Daniel is also part of the collective who operate Goulds Natural Medicine, the historic and iconic Hobart apothecary and clinic.

Difficulties with sexual function; which may include low sexual desire or arousal; problems with erections, ejaculation, or orgasm; and sexual pain; will impact around 45% of couple relationships at any point in time. Given that sexual functioning is determined by a complex mix of biological, psychological, social and interpersonal factors, it is likely that as holistic health practitioners, Naturopaths and Herbalists will encounter clients seeking help for these problems. If we look to our herbal medicine tradition, we can see that problems with sexual function were treated as important, particularly as they were historically seen to be intrinsically connected to difficulties with reproduction. Herbal medicine solutions therefore were highly sought after, and valued by health practitioners and by the general public. Most knowledge of the use of our herbs in this context is situated in traditional use, however a growing body of research helps to provide firmer ground for their use in modern herbal medicine practice.
In this presentation, the historical and contemporary application of herbal “aphrodisiac’s” and their place in herbal medicine practice will be explored. Current understandings of desire, arousal and sexual pleasure will also be discussed. This will provide practitioners with a greater understanding of how Naturopathic and herbal medicine can support sexual health, and contribute to a theoretical framework from which practitioners can work to support their clients experiencing sexual difficulties.

He has been a clinical herbalist and naturopath in multiple private practices since 1993, and an educator for more than 25 years. Ian’s research spans the topics of herbal safety, quality and efficacy, and in 2021 he was the recipient of the Bioceuticals Integrative Medicine Award for Contribution to Research & Education. Ian is currently Chair of the NHAA Board Member Advisory Committee, is an expert contributor to the Olive Wellness Institute, and an advisor for the Natural Health Science Foundation.

Using the ongoing ESOLED trial as a case study (which emerged from a collaboration between a researcher and practitioner), this workshop will take attendees through some of the steps of collaborative clinical trial design and management. The facilitators will describe some key obstacles and solutions, and engage the audience in an open discussion to share ideas and promote best
practice.

During her time as a student, she has won multiple awards for academic excellence. She is passionate about ensuring the safety and longevity of naturopathic practice and has been an NHAA student member since 2021.

Her extensive career has included working with patients within a private clinical setting, within hospitals, sporting groups, with individual athletes, and within corporate settings. Julianne has a special interest in the management of chronic disease, including adjunct oncology care. Alongside her practice, Julianne is also a researcher, technical writer, presenter and educator for an Australian herbal medicine company, OptimalRx. Julianne is passionate about education, both of her clients and of the Naturopathic profession, and invests a great deal of time researching and implementing advances in natural medicine. Julianne has a keen interest in herbal medicine and is a member of the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA).

Cancer is an epidemic; it is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths according to the World Health Organisation.  As a reflection of these growing statistics, researchers are fiercely working towards identifying cancer therapies, including investigating the beneficial activities of botanical medicines.  Via this research, as well as epidemiology studies and case reports, we can see that certain phytomedicines modulate immune activity within the tumour microenvironment, making it inhospitable to tumour development and growth. This presentation focuses on the role phytomedicines play in modulating the tumour microenvironment.  This discussion entails the specific type of immune environment that is required for a cancer, or tumour, to develop and thrive, how these cancerous cells communicate with our immune system to sway immune activity in their favour, and how this process is crucial to cancer’s survival.  Research will be presented that identifies the specific immunomodulation that phytotherapy imparts upon the tumour microenvironment, ultimately slowing the development, growth and spread of cancer.  The focus of this discussion will then move towards herbal medicines that have shown promising outcomes within the research and clinical settings.

Laura ultimately coaches patients toward independence, equipping them with the tools required to build a healthier diet and lifestyle for the long term. Social worker before naturopath, Laura has vast experience building trust and relationships with vulnerable people. These skills inform her practice whereby solid patient rapport is the foundation of all treatment plans.Laura has a keen passion for mental health concerns and studying the way our mental and physical health interact. Stress, anxiety and mood disorders in all ages are key areas of interest for Laura.

Have you ever developed what you were sure was the perfect treatment plan, the ideal combination of herbs and nutrients and fabulous diet/lifestyle advice but not seen the outcomes you’d hoped? Building strong rapport, quickly is paramount to clinical success, and yet it is something that not nearly enough practitioners prioritise.  Skills developed as a social worker have been critical in informing my own practice as a naturopath.  Working with vulnerable population groups demands a high level of interpersonal skills and the ability to garner trust and respect, quickly.  I have found these skills to be highly transferable and advantageous in building clinical relationships with patients.  Although quality evidence is somewhat lacking, research does show that clinical outcomes improve when communication is clear and there is a strong foundational clinician-patient relationship. I will explore this further in my presentation.  The presentation features relevant research, psychological theory, and clinical examples from my own practice. This presentation will discuss the importance of rapport and trust in improving clinical outcomes, as well as novel ideas to improve practitioner skills in this area.Attendees will learn that being a practitioner is much more than having the best treatment plan.  We must develop our skills beyond technical knowledge of naturopathic medicine and explore our traditional role as holistic healers.

Clinically she has a niche interest in recurrent vaginal infections and genitourinary health through her work at Intimate Ecology.
Moira holds a Bachelor of Naturopathy and Masters degree in Acupuncture from Southern Cross University and is a PhD Candidate at Griffith University, Australia: in the area of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.
In addition to her role as a Naturopath and researcher, Moira has lectured extensively at a tertiary level and in holistic genitourinary health, educating her fellow practitioners to offer support in an often-overlooked area.

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC)  is  experienced  by  up  to  10%  of  pre-menopausal women globally,  yet  there  is  limited  research  exploring  the management  experience  and perspectives of    women    living    with    this challenging   condition.  Current long-term pharmaceutical maintenance treatments for RVVC are not particularly  effective  with  post-treatment  relapse rates as high as  57%.A  recent narrative  review by  our  team identified a wide variety of treatment   strategies in   Australasian   RVVC   prescribing   resources   and guidelines. Prior Australian practitioner surveys identified a multitude of RVVC management protocols in use.
Semi-structured interviews with ten Australian women experiencing RVVC were conducted between April–July 2021and qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was conducted.

Tracey was board member for submission/acceptance of University-level Naturopathic program at Australian College of Natural Medicine, now Endeavour College of Natural Health, and was an educator there for almost 20 years. 2000’s, Tracey opened a new category for bladder control in the USA and has since won seven international awards. 2010’s, Tracey co-wrote a nutritional program for Australian Medical School MBBS program, now a Masters Program. Tracey is chapter co-author, LUTS in 5th edition, 2020, Pizzorno and Murray, Textbook of Natural Medicine.

The emerging health category, urinary and bladder control, is the fifth-fastest growing US dietary supplement category. Current research is proving the effectiveness of Western herbal medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda to treat common urinary disorders.

Three human randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in men, women and children, using Urox® combination of Crateva magna/nurvala, Equisteum arvense and Lindera strychnifolia/aggregata assessed effectiveness in reducing urinary symptoms of urgency, incontinence, overactive bladder, bedwetting and nocturia. Participants took either Urox® or colour-matched placebo for 8 weeks with interviews at baseline, 2-weeks, 4weeks, 8-weeks. Placebo-controlled mechanism-of-action research assessed mode-of-action of Urox® in rats with retinyl-acetate-induced overactive bladder.

As a practitioner Rhiannon is committed to the successful integration of natural and conventional medicine, regularly working alongside Melbourne’s top fertility doctors to achieve the best outcomes for her patients. As testament to this, Rhiannon is routinely invited to present on the topic of collaborative patient care to medical specialists and naturopaths alike. After over 17 years of experience in the area of infertility and IVF support, Rhiannon provides professional mentoring and education for functional medicine practitioners in both group and individual settings. This highly specialised area is outside the scope of standard naturopathic education and as such, her reproduction and hormonal masterclasses mentoring programs are a rare opportunity for practitioners to further their skills.
Rhiannon has co-authored the book Create A Fertile Life. This comprehensive pre-conception healthcare guide for both patients and practitioners, has become a staple for those wishing to overcome infertility and prepare for a healthy pregnancy.

The perimenopause is a time of significant hormonal fluctuation, accompanied by a range of variable physical and emotional symptoms. It is often a time for worsening premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and often when premenstrual dysphoric disorder is diagnosed. Sleep disturbance, changes in cognitive function and changes to the menstrual cycle, as well as the beginning of vasomotor symptoms may be experienced. These unpredictable symptoms are only challenging and confusing for the patient, but also often poorly understood by both conventional and functional practitioners. This field is currently under significant investigation from a research perspective, and as such, our approach to managing this patient group is ever evolving as we develop new insight into understanding this transitional phase. Naturopathic traditional medicines and understanding can play a significant role in, managing symptoms and optimising patient outcomes, holistically, while identifying and addressing the hormonal influences, as well as the other non-hormonal influencing factors contributing to the patient presentation.  In this workshop, two highly-experienced clinicians, will guide participants through what they have found to be the most effective traditional and contemporary interventions for the various perimenopause presentations. They will collaborate, compare and contrast their various treatment strategies, drawing on scientific research, traditional knowledge and practice based evidence. The presentation workshop will include considerations regarding supporting patient’s decisions around menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).  Participants will come away with a greater understanding of how to appropriately assess this patient group; confidence in discussing MHT options in a clinical setting, and effective strategies for symptom management.

Consequently, I’ve seen the results of the continual improvement of under-graduate training, especially in relation to EBM and arguably, what we have taken attention away from: our unique therapeutic relationships & truly personalised prescriptions. From my own clinic encounters and those of so many others – I’m well-positioned to start this conversation about the ‘how’ and what we’re getting right and where there is room for improvement.

As integrative health professionals, we pride ourselves on our holistic & individualised approach. We listen deeply, think ‘outside the box’ to make connections in our patients’ health narrative, missed by others, move beyond biology to encompass all elements & influences & put a great deal of effort into the ‘why’ and the ‘what’: this is why you have this health issue and this is what we’re going to do to fix it. At the end of an information & insight heavy consultation, barely squeezed into the allocated time, formulating a prescription can feel like a finish-line of sorts: “Here is the solution – now off you go!” But when we (lovingly) push our patients out the door with a ‘to do list’ perhaps we’ve misunderstood our mission: to meet each patient where they are and facilitate true change.
Ideally, we want to communicate to our patients that we’re here to help with the process of change not simply demand or expect it of them. To recognise the importance of the ‘individual in front of us’ beyond the work-up, through to the prescription itself. Patientcentred prescribing recognises and prioritises the patient’s own agency, autonomy and their unique capacity and context for change. By redrawing our attention to these elements of our patient interactions – we give our patients a voice, a role in the co-creation of their treatment plan, an invitation to engage more deeply and ultimately, the opportunity for
better outcomes. But how do we do have a conversation about the ‘how’ when we perceive it all to be about the ‘why’ and the ‘what’.

A/Prof Leach is a renowned international expert in complementary medicine research, evidence-based practice, and health services research, as well as naturopathic medicine education. He has published more than 165 refereed journal articles, 13 book chapters and a seminal textbook on clinical decision-making; his work has been cited more than 4,677 times, and has had clinical, education, research and policy impact. A/Prof Leach is also a member of several journal editorial boards and government committees.

Using the ongoing ESOLED trial as a case study (which emerged from a collaboration between a researcher and practitioner), this workshop will take attendees through some of the steps of collaborative clinical trial design and management. The facilitators will describe some key obstacles and solutions, and engage the audience in an open discussion to share ideas and promote best
practice.

She is an experienced mixed-methods researcher with research projects and publications in the areas of workforce readiness, clinical practice and professional issues in CM, Complementary and Alternative Medicine use, research methodologies, and health education. Amber has experience as a Human Research Ethics Committee member and administrator and research assistant, as well as over ten years’ experience in university teaching. She has won awards in teaching and conference presentations.

Carolyn is a health scientist, researcher, naturopath, herbalist and nutritionist who has a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) Hons and is currently undertaking her PhD at the University of Technology Sydney investigating folate forms for recurrent miscarriage. Carolyn has spent over 12 years working with chronically ill patients and believes the key to successfully unravelling chronic health conditions is the ability to understand a person’s genetic susceptibility and overlying environmental contributors that shift the biochemistry significantly away from the person’s ability to cope with environmental assaults.

Mental health is a growing concern for all ages and many people find little or no effect from traditional medications like SSRI’s.
However, understanding the genetic susceptibility of your patient can have significant implications in your treatment approach. Emerging research supports the use of herbs and nutrients to epigenetically affect genes that support neurotransmitters. Although we have traditional uses for herbal medicines, scientific research has particularly flourished in the wake of COVID-19 to open up a new prescribing based on an epigenetic approach.

This presentation will show you how to identify which neurotransmitters may be at issue and what genes may impact this. Most
antidepressants support serotonin synthesis, but many patients with long standing depression suffer from dopamine deficiency (affected by the COMT, catechol-o-methyltransferase activity) and therefore SSRI’s are ineffective at improving mood. Environmental factors like LPS, infection and inflammation also affect mood by depleting tryptophan levels and depleting serotonin. Nutrients and herbs can support the underlying biochemistry by up-regulating or down-regulating enzymes required to support the patient while you address the underlying cause.

Catherine has worked in education and academic management for over 10 years and has been a qualified naturopath for over 20 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic the TUA Naturopathic and WHM Academic team implemented a Telehealth Clinical Service as a reasonable adjustment to in-person student-led clinical practicum at The Practice Wellbeing Centres.

Tracelee has a strong focus on leading student practitioners and educators in an innovative clinic space and aims to provide access to the most current clinical practices available. Tracelee is also an NHAA Board Member and is the chair of the NHAA Education Committee.

In addition to her academic career, Janet is a practicing clinical nutritionist and naturopath with over 20 years’ experience. Following the completion of her doctorate in 2015, Janet has focused her research on supporting people who have cancer through studying the use of complementary medicines to assist side effects of cancer treatments. Janet has completed a number of ground-breaking studies and has over 60 publications, some of which have gained widespread national media attention

Sixty-five percent of cancer patients are using complementary medicine (CM) but are reluctant to discuss CM with their oncology hospital teams. This can impact adversely on patient satisfaction, autonomy, and safety. Cancer patients are not always under the care of qualified naturopaths who can advise on the safe and effective evidence-based use of herbal and nutritional medicine for integrative cancer care.

As a collaborative multidiscipline team, MIOG practitioners utilise evidence-based Complementary Therapies and Plant Based Medicines  to support patients with cancer during surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and on into preventative care. She liaises closely with MIOG’s GP’s and other oncology professionals and has observed and worked in integrative oncology hospitals internationally. Tanya is an established lecturer at tertiary level, she has written and presented seminars in Integrative Medicine for Health Professionals and is a contributing author to a range of clinical textbooks.

Sixty-five percent of cancer patients are using complementary medicine (CM) but are reluctant to discuss CM with their oncology hospital teams. This can impact adversely on patient satisfaction, autonomy, and safety. Cancer patients are not always under the care of qualified naturopaths who can advise on the safe and effective evidence-based use of herbal and nutritional medicine for integrative cancer care.

She is passionate about bringing the holistic perspectives of her naturopathic roots into research and teaching at the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (UTS) and the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (SCU).

Background Traditional knowledge is integral to herbal and naturopathic medicine, providing valuable empirical evidence. However, current interpretations of evidence-based practice often focus narrowly on evidence from clinical trials, neglecting the inclusion of traditional knowledge. Traditional medicine systems also adapt over time to changing circumstances, affecting how traditional knowledge is used, developed and shared.  These factors create a need for resources to support appropriate translation of traditional knowledge to contemporary health settings.

Dr Arentz is an experienced clinical and academic supervisor and lecturer in evidence-based practice and health science communication. Dr Arentz’s PhD and early research focussed on the clinical role of naturopathy in PCOS. More recently she has collaborated with Australian and international experts and helped embed evidence-based complementary medicine recommendations into clinical practice guidelines, evidence synthesis of zinc and honeybee products for use in the COVID-19 pandemic and in the assessment of interdisciplinary clinical communications.

Have you ever enthusiastically dispensed the latest supplements recommended at an industry sponsored health conference, only to find the results were not quite as stunning as claimed? We’ve all been there. Our naturopathic medicines are arguably the most marketed in the world, glossy and over-sold by anybody and everyone. It’s not easy to find real clinical pearls, the reliable remedies with predictable effectiveness, nearly every time. How do you find them?

Referring to published research is one of the most tried and tested, reliable approaches. Used in all types of evidence-based practice, research published in scientific journals is the bedrock of clinical practice guidelines. Articles written by practitioners are valuable as they report relevant clinical insights. However, writing academically can be a challenge, as the emphasis is on objectivity and transparency rather than ‘yes! It is effective.’ The MACA (mentor and author in exchange for co-authorship) provides support for authors to develop their manuscript and clarify messages in an emotionally-safe, professional interaction before peer review and publication. Clinicians published articles inform the profession and can elevate standing when authors apply for scholarship and enrolment in higher degrees. This workshop will describe the mentorship program of the AJHNM. Attendees will be invited to share the barriers to publishing their own clinical pearls of wisdom.

Leaning-objectives
Practical solutions may support connections between naturopaths who would like to publish articles in scientific journals and MACA mentors.

Implications
Increased publication of naturopathic research, substantiation of the evidence-base and support of evidence-based naturopathic practice.

Having spent years in a physical clinic as a community focused practitioner, Hannah has been offering virtual consults, including Group Naturopathic Consults for people with Endometriosis since 2019. She is passionate about supporting her patients with practical advice, education and providing a safe and inclusive environment. Hannah is currently a NHAA director and Vice President of the Association.

Naturopathic service utilisation is high, particularly among those with chronic conditions. Despite this, there remain some barriers to accessing naturopathic services in the broader population. Group medical visits (GMVs) (also known as integrative group medical visits (IGMVs)) are an effective medical and integrative model of care developed to mitigate such barriers and are used by conventional medical providers in Australia and overseas. GMVs have been shown to be an effective approach to managing chronic disease & improving health outcomes through collective care and healing by incorporating connection and peer support with clinical care.  There is increasing interest throughout the naturopathic profession in adopting the model to implement group naturopathic consultations. Naturopaths from various parts of Australia have started pilot testing the group consult model and are observing promising and inspiring results.
Workshop focus: This audience-interactive clinical discussion aims to showcase some of the programs and structure currently being used in clinical practices by various naturopaths and discuss the successes and challenges to implementing group consultations in naturopathic practice.

As well as working in the Jean Hailes Medical clinics, as part of a collaborative health care team with general practitioners, medical specialists and other allied health professionals, she is responsible for the development of educational resources on natural therapies for women, for the website, national magazine, webinars and seminars, for both the general public and health professionals. She also creates recipes for the “Jean Hailes kitchen” which provide health based nutritional educational messages. Sandra lectures final year naturopathy students at Torrens University, Melbourne campus.

The perimenopause is a time of significant hormonal fluctuation, accompanied by a range of variable physical and emotional symptoms. It is often a time for worsening premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and often when premenstrual dysphoric disorder is diagnosed. Sleep disturbance, changes in cognitive function and changes to the menstrual cycle, as well as the beginning of vasomotor symptoms may be experienced. These unpredictable symptoms are only challenging and confusing for the patient, but also often poorly understood by both conventional and functional practitioners. This field is currently under significant investigation from a research perspective, and as such, our approach to managing this patient group is ever evolving as we develop new insight into understanding this transitional phase. Naturopathic traditional medicines and understanding can play a significant role in, managing symptoms and optimising patient outcomes, holistically, while identifying and addressing the hormonal influences, as well as the other non-hormonal influencing factors contributing to the patient presentation.  In this workshop, two highly-experienced clinicians, will guide participants through what they have found to be the most effective traditional and contemporary interventions for the various perimenopause presentations. They will collaborate, compare and contrast their various treatment strategies, drawing on scientific research, traditional knowledge and practice based evidence. The presentation workshop will include considerations regarding supporting patient’s decisions around menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).  Participants will come away with a greater understanding of how to appropriately assess this patient group; confidence in discussing MHT options in a clinical setting, and effective strategies for symptom management.

Supporting patients through education, healthcare collaboration and inspiration Ananda has an interest in pain management which encompasses a wide scope, including supporting women with endometriosis and adenomyosis. Ananda works at Vibe Natural Health, a multimodality clinic in Brisbane, teaches nutrition clinic at Torrens University and is a co-owner of HeartRadiance Australian Wildflower Essences.  Ananda has completed post graduate studies in Nutrition and Master of Medicine (Pain Management).

Naturopathic service utilisation is high, particularly among those with chronic conditions. Despite this, there remain some barriers to accessing naturopathic services in the broader population. Group medical visits (GMVs) (also known as integrative group medical visits (IGMVs)) are an effective medical and integrative model of care developed to mitigate such barriers and are used by conventional medical providers in Australia and overseas. GMVs have been shown to be an effective approach to managing chronic disease & improving health outcomes through collective care and healing by incorporating connection and peer support with clinical care.  There is increasing interest throughout the naturopathic profession in adopting the model to implement group naturopathic consultations. Naturopaths from various parts of Australia have started pilot testing the group consult model and are observing promising and inspiring results.
Workshop focus: This audience-interactive clinical discussion aims to showcase some of the programs and structure currently being used in clinical practices by various naturopaths and discuss the successes and challenges to implementing group consultations in naturopathic practice.